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Business Tapas, a digital knowledge hub that has been developed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to accelerate business growth and bring together a wealth of resources, tutorials, and advice on core business topics, has been named the Most Innovative Project of the Year at the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Annual Awards 2024.
The awards, which were hosted in London on 6th November following the IED Annual Conference ‘Economic Transition – How do we deliver long-lasting change in our towns, cities and regions?’, recognise achievers in the public and private sector through a series of individual, team and organisational categories.
The Most Innovative Project of the Year award, sponsored by Growth Maturity Index – created by YTKO and GPC Skills – is geared towards innovative economic development projects which have pushed the boundaries beyond traditional approaches and delivered additional beneficial outcomes as a result of the innovation.
The nomination for Business Tapas centred on its work to accelerate business growth and empower local economies. Providing tailored resources that allow for autonomous learning, content is delivered in ‘bitesize’ portions, supporting companies of all sizes and stages, from large enterprises to start-ups and not-for-profits.
IED Director Bev Hurley CBE, who hosted the IED Annual Awards 2024, said: “Many congratulations to Cheshire West and Cheshire Council as the winner of our Most Innovative Project of the Year award. Our judges praised this submission for its innovative approach to creating a digital platform that evolves with trends and user feedback. Key features include a digital training hub, corporate-sponsored areas, and community forums, aimed at supporting businesses of all sizes across various industries. Described as a transformative platform by our judges, Business Tapas addresses economic inequalities and fosters trust among local organisations. Judges also noted its accessibility for micro and small enterprises and highlighted its thoughtful design, which complies with local authority regulations while offering commercialisation potential for future growth.”
With further detail on the Cheshire West and Chester Council website, Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said:
“It is fantastic to hear business owners praise the work of the Council’s Business Growth Team, and the award from the Institute of Economic Development must be the cherry on top for them. Their Business Tapas programme is a great resource for all local businesses at whatever stage of their journey. It is part of the Council’s business support offer that helps local businesses to start-up, scale-up and innovate – creating sustainable and inclusive growth and a fair Cheshire West economy for our residents and businesses.
“Thank you to all the businesses that have helped to develop Business Tapas, as well as the fantastic Cheshire West Business Growth Team and the vibrant businesses across our borough. Thanks for being a part of a local success story.”
